Adjustable-collapsible transformer coil winding form

ABSTRACT

A form upon which wire coils having rectangular windows may be wound when the form is mounted for rotation between the headstock and tailstock of a lathe. The end plates of the form are movable endwise for collapsing the form to facilitate removal from the coil window, and the form is manually adjustable to provide coil windows differing in height, width or both.

United States Patent Prairie County, Ark. (Rt. 1, Box 27, 1 eValls Bluff, Ark. 72041) [21] 7 Appl. No. 751,264

[221' Filed Aug. 8, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] ADJUSTABLE-COLLAPSIBLE TRANSFORMER 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 140/922 [51] Int. Cl B211 3/00 [50] Field of Search 140/921,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,057,933 4/1913 Chew 140/921 l,088,l27 2/1914 Clark 140/922 1,139,077 5/1915 Safford 242/1102 1,344,567 6/1920 Stratt0n..... 140/922 1,589,456 6/1926 Beghetti 140/922 1,731,183 10/1929 Thacker 140/922 1,787,612 l/l93l Brenner..... 140/922 1,948,875 2/1934 Beitling 140/922 2,151,034 3/1939 Kauppert 140/922 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Attorney-Ralph R. Pittman ABSTRACT: A form upon which wire coils having rectangular windows may be wound when the form is mounted for rotation between .the headstock and tailstock of a lathe. The end plates of the form are movable endwise for collapsing the form to facilitate removal from the coil window, and the form is manually adjustable to provide coil windows differing in height, width or both.

' PATENTED H023 I971 INVENTOR.

GLEN T RUFF ADJUSTABLE-COLLAPSIBLE TRANSFORMER COIL WINDING FORM This invention relates generally to collapsible-expandable wire winding forms of rectangular cross-sectional outline and having rectangular windows therethrough, the form being adapted for rotation between the headstock and tailstock of a lathe. The principal difficulty with the collapsible wire-winding forms currently available is the inconvenience in removing the structural members of the form from the window of the coil after the coil is wound. To illustrate, one construction embodying a pair of wedge-shaped wooden members and assembled for use by means of wood screws requires considerable time and effort torernove from a coil wound thereon, as the winding tends to press themembers in their interfacial rela tionship even after the screws are removed.

As now generally used, winding forms are of differing sizes to provide for differing sizes of coil windows. If a number of coil sizes are required, as for example, for a group of electric transformers, a separate form is required for each size of transformer, and due to theharsh treatment to which the wooden forms are subjected, their life is relatively short.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a metal coil-winding form having a substantially unlimited useful life.

It is a further object to provide a collapsible form which is expandable to make available a plurality of coil window sizes.

An additional object is the provision of a wire-winding coil form which may be collapsed with relatively little effort.

A further object is the provision of a collapsible metal form which may be chucked in a lathe regardless of which end of the form is associated with either the headstock or tailstock of the lathe. I 7

Another object is the provision of a simple and inexpensive form in which the components are simple steel shapes which may be welded for joining to constitute the structure.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out or will be apparent from the specification and claims, taken in conjunction with the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment, in which:

FIG. l is a plan view of the form;

'FIG. 2 is a side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a view of the inner face of one end plate;

FIG. 4 is a view of the outer face of an end plate;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of an end portion of the forms; and

FIG. 7 is a section through the tailstock bearing.

As shown by the drawing, only two basic steel shapes are required for the elongate members of the form; namely, the pair of identical T-beams 11 and 12, and the pairs of identical angle beams 13 and 14, and and 16, respectively. The pair of T-beams are disposed in mutually coextensive relationship, and extend in opposed spaced a parallel relationship with the wide or crossarm portion of each T-beams facing outwardly to provide flat surfaces therealong.

The pair of angled l3 and 14 extend along the outwardlyfacing flat surface of the T-shaped base plate member 11, being carried thereby and mounted thereon for transverse slidable movement, each angle of the pair having a lag en gaged in facing contact with the outer surface of base plate member. In like fashion, the angles 15 and 16 are assembled with the other end opposed T-shaped base plate member 12.

The leg of each angle engaging the T-bars is transversely slotted as indicated at 25 and 26, and the cap screw 27 and 28 extend inwardly through the associated slots in threaded engagement with the T-shaped base plate member. A washer 29 extends across the slot and over a portion of the outer surface ,o, f' the associated angle; when the washer is loose, the transverse position of the angle relative to the T-shaped base plate member may be adjusted within the limits permitted by the lengthof the associated slot, and after being adjusted to the I To each end of each T-shaped base plate member 11 and 12, and protruding endwise therefrom, is rigidly secured a group of three triangularly spaced pins, as indicated at 30, 31 and 32, and at 33,34 and 35, and the pair of end plates 17 and 18, disposed normally to the T-shaped base plate members at the respective ends thereof, have formed therein from the inner surface several groups of three triangularly spaced complemen tary openings, as indicated at 36, 37 and 38, the latter being disposed for the selective slip-fit reception of one group of the pins.

The group of openings selected for engagement by the pins determines the spacing of the T-shaped base plate members in the assembled form, and thus determines one dimension of the rectangular window opening of a coil wound on the form, while the other dimension of the window is determined by the transverse spacing of the angles, as above described.

The protuberances l9 and 20, integral with the respective end plates 17 and 18, project coaxially endwise from each end plate, and a recess 40 forming a bearing seat, extends coaxially and inwardly in the protuberances. Each protuberance enables the form to be attached to the headstock of a lathe, while the bearings 21 and 22, of brass or suitable bearing metal, extend in'wardly into the protuberances to provide a bearing for running on the tailstock of a lathe. The bearings may be retained in place by means of the Allen setscrews 23 and 24.

FIG. 7 is a section of one of the bearings, showing the inwardly tapering opening 42 in communication with the grease cup portion 43 and the setscrew indentation, and FIG. 5 shows an opening 39 extending coaxially through the midpoint of each end plate and in communication with the rear wall of the bearing, for convenience in removing the bearing for polishing or for replacement.

A set of graduation marks 44 are scored along the inner wall of the end plates 17 and 18, these marks, in their relation to the outer ends of each of the transversely adjustable angles enabling an indication of one dimension of the window size of a coil wound on the form. For example, the numerals l, 2 and 3 may indicate a dimension suitable for 5, 10 and 15 kva transformers, respectively.

The wire at the starting end of a coil to be wound on the form must be anchored thereto in some fashion, and a common procedure is by an external clamp attached to the form. To make such a clamp unnecessary, a slot 45 is extended inwardly through the engaged leg of one of the angles adjacent to one end and in registration with the opening 46 in the T- shaped base plate member, enabling the anchoring of, the

starting end of the coil at the inner side of the base plate member.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the collapse of the form cannot occur unless there is endwise movement of the end plates, and that such movement cannot occur when the form is held, as a coil is wound thereon, between the headstock and the tailstock of a lathe. It will also be apparent that upon the removal from the lathe of the form, along with the coil, the necessary endwise movement of the end plates for collapsing the form requires little effort, and may indeed occur during the act of removal. It will also be clear that the wire-winding form of the invention, being symmetrical about longitudinal and transverse center lines, may be chucked in a lathe regardless of which end of the form engages with either the headstock or tailstock of the lathe.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed constructions and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter in the foregoing description shall be regarded as illustrative rather than limitmg.

I claim:

1. An elongate collapsible form for shaping wire coils of rectangular cross section when wire is wound on the form as the form is rotated about its longitudinal axis between the headstock and the tailstock of a lathe, said form including a pair of rectilinearly extending base plate members disposed in oppose spaced parallel relationship to one another and to the longitudinal axis of rotations, the respective plate members having rectangular planar outer surfaces over and along which the wire is wound, a pair of end plates disposed normally to said base plate members at the respective ends thereof, at least two spaced smooth-surfaced pins rigidly fixed to and projecting longitudinally outward from the end of each base plate member and at least four complementary openings in said end plates within which said pins are entirely enclosed in slip-fit lengthwise engagement therewith for holding said base plate members in parallel relationship and detachably connecting said end plates thereto, and a protuberance projecting outwardly from each end plate coaxially with the axis of rotation of the form for respectively engaging the headstock and tailstock of said lathe, said pins cooperating with the associated end plate to transmit rotary movement to the base plate members in response to rotation of either of said end plates in a plane normal to said axis.

2. An elongate collapsible wire-winding form of rectangular cross-sectional outline adapted for rotation about is longitudinal axis between the headstock and tailstock of a lathe, comprising a pair of rectilinearly extending T-beams disposed in opposed spaced parallel relationship with the respective crossarm portion of each T-beam positioned to provide outwardlyfacing flat rectangular surfaces therealong over and along which the wire is wound, an inwardly facing end plate engaging each pair of ends of said T-beams and projecting peripherally therefrom, a group of three triangularly spaced smooth-surfaced pins rigidly fixed to the respective ends of said T-beams and protruding longitudinally therefrom, one of the pins of each group being disposed adjacent to each end of the crossarm of the T-beam section and the other pin being disposed adjacent to the outer end of the stem of the T-beam section, a group of at least three triangularly spaced complementary openings extending normally through the inner face of and into each end plate and disposed for the endwise slip-fit reception of each group of pins to assemble said form and for lengthwise slip-fit withdrawal to collapse said form, and a protuberance projecting outwardly from the outer face of each end plate and coaxially with the axis of rotation of the form for chucking the fonn between the headstock and tailstock of a lathe, the extended pins cooperating with each end plate to transmit corresponding rotative movement to said T- beams about the longitudinal axis of rotation in response to rotation of either of said end plates in a plane normal to said axis when said fonn is assembled.

3. The winding form recited in claim 2, in which alternate groups of pin-receiving openings in each end plate are disposed for selective engagement with said pins whereby the longitudinal space between said T-beams may be varied within predetermined limits.

4. The winding form recited in claim 2, in which a pair of angle beams are disposed coextensively along and mounted for transverse slidable movement across the outwardly-facing flat surfaces of each T-beam, each angle beam of each pair of angle beams having the inwardly-facing surface of one leg thereof in facing contact with the entire length of the outwardly flat surface of each of said T-beams, at least one slot extending transversely through the contacting leg of each angle beam, holding means normally restraining the movement of said angle beam with respect to said T-beam, said holding means including a fastener attached at its inner end to the T-beam and having an outer portion extending across said slot in engagement with the outer surface of the angle beam, said holding means being manually releasable for slidably adjusting the transverse positioning of said angle beam relative to said T-beam whereby the transverse spacing of said angle beams may be varied within the limits permitted by the length of said slot.

5. The winding form as claimed in claim 3, in which a pair of angle beams are mounted on and extend along the outwardlyfacing flat surfaces of each of said T-beams, and means for selectively spacing and fixing the angle beams of each pair within predetermined limits.

6.The winding form as claimed in claim 4, includingineans for selectively spacing and fixing the T-beams within predeter-limits.

7 The winding form as recided in claim 4, including a set of graduation marks along the inner surface of each end plate for cooperating with the outer edge of each of said angle beams to thereby indicate one dimension of the window of a coil wound on the form.

8. Thw winding form as recited in claim 4, in which a slotted opening extends through the contacting leg of one of said angle beams adjacent to one ned thereof, and an opening through a crossarm portion of the abutting T-beam is disposed in registration with said slotted opening, whereby the wire at the starting end of a coil may be extended through said openings for anchoring at the inner side of said T-beam.

9. The winding form as claimed in claim 4, in which a recess extends coaxially inward from the outer end of each protuberance and a removable bearing extends inwardly into said recess, said bearing having an inwardly tapering opening therein for engaging the tailstock of a lathe, and a coextensive grease cup in communication with said tapering opening.

10. The winding form set forth in claim 9, wherein an opening extends coaxially through the midpoint of each end plate in communication with the rear wall of said bearing.

11. An inwardly collapsible rotatable form upon and along which wire may be wound to form an electric transformer coil having a rectangular window, said form comprising a pair of assemblies of rectilinear members extending in opposed spaced parallel relationship and defining an elongated right rectangular prism, a plurality of smoothsurfaced pins rigidly secured to the respective ends of each of said assemblies and projecting endwise therefrom, and a pair of end plates extending over the respective ends of said pair of assemblies, each of said end plates having a complementary group of lengthwise extending pin-receiving! openings into which said pins project to effect a slip-fiti connection normally holding said assemblies in spaced relationship and releasing said assemblies for inward movement one toward the other to collapse the form in response to a single endwise movement of each end plate, the slipfit connection between each end plate and said assemblies being effective to cause responsive rotary movement of said assemblies about the longitudinal axis of said prism upon rotation of either of said end plates in a plane normal to said axis.

12. The form claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said assemblies includes a T-beam having coextensively mounted tereon a pair of transversely slidable angle beams.

13. The form in accordance with claim 11, in which a plurality of said complementary groups of pin-receiving openings are formed in each end plate.

14. The form in accordance with claim ll, wherein said pins are triangularly disposed with respect to the inner face of each end plate.

15. An inwardly collapsible and rotatable elongate form for use in winding rectangular transformer coils, comprising a pair of coextensive rectilinear winding-carrying members extending longitudinally in opposed spaced parallel relationship, one of said members being gravitybiased to collapse into the longitudinal normally unoccupied space between said members, a plurality of endwise-extending pins fixed to the respective adjacent ends of said wirecarrying members, and a pair of end plates cooperating with said pins to normally restrain said one member from collapse and to release said one member in response to an outward endwise movement of said end plates. 

1. An elongate collapsible form for shaping wire coils of rectangular cross section when wire is wound on the form as the form is rotated about its longitudinal axis between the headstock and the tailstock of a lathe, said form including a pair of rectilinearly extending base plate members disposed in oppose spaced parallel relationship to one another and to the longitudinal axis of rotations, the respective plate members having rectangular planar outer surfaces over and along which the wire is wound, a pair of end plates disposed normally to said base plate members at the respective ends thereof, at least two spaced smooth-surfaced pins rigidly fixed to and projecting longitudinally outward from the end of each base plate member and at least four complementary openings in said end plates within which said pins are entirely enclosed in slip-fit lengthwise engagement therewith for holding said base plate members in parallel relationship and detachably connecting said end plates thereto, and a protuberance projecting outwardly from each end plate coaxially with the axis of rotation of the form for respectively engaging the headstock and tailstock of said lathe, said pins cooperating with the associated end plate to transmit rotary movement to the base plate members in response to rotation of either of said end plates in a plane normal to said axis.
 2. An elongate collapsible wire-winding form of rectangular cross-sectional outline adapted for rotation about is longitudinal axis between the headstock and tailstock of a lathe, comprising a pair of rectilinearly extending T-beams disposed in opposed spaced parallel relationship with the respective crossarm portion of each T-beam positioned to provide outwardly-facing flat rectangular surfaces therealong over and along which the wire is wound, an inwardly facing end plate engaging each pair of ends of said T-beams and projecting peripherally therefrom, a group of three triangularly spaced smooth-surfaced pins rigidly fixed to the respective ends of said T-beams and protruding longitudinally therefrom, one of the pins of each group being disposed adjacent to each end of the crossarm of the T-beam section and the other pin being disposed adjacent to the outer end of the stem of the T-beam section, a group of at least three triangularly spaced complementary openings extending normally through the inner face of and into each end plate and disposed for the endwise slip-fit reception of each group of pins to assemble said form and for lengthwise slip-fit withdrawal to collapse said form, and a protuberance projecting outwardly from the outer face of each end plate and coaxially with the axis of rotation of the form for chucking the form between the headstock and tailstock of a lathe, the extended pins cooperating with each end plate to transmit corresponding rotative movement to said T-beams about the longitudinal axis of rotation in response to rotation of either of said end plates in a plane normal to said axis when said form is assembled.
 3. The winding form recited in claim 2, in which alternate groupS of pin-receiving openings in each end plate are disposed for selective engagement with said pins whereby the longitudinal space between said T-beams may be varied within predetermined limits.
 4. The winding form recited in claim 2, in which a pair of angle beams are disposed coextensively along and mounted for transverse slidable movement across the outwardly-facing flat surfaces of each T-beam, each angle beam of each pair of angle beams having the inwardly-facing surface of one leg thereof in facing contact with the entire length of the outwardly flat surface of each of said T-beams, at least one slot extending transversely through the contacting leg of each angle beam, holding means normally restraining the movement of said angle beam with respect to said T-beam, said holding means including a fastener attached at its inner end to the T-beam and having an outer portion extending across said slot in engagement with the outer surface of the angle beam, said holding means being manually releasable for slidably adjusting the transverse positioning of said angle beam relative to said T-beam whereby the transverse spacing of said angle beams may be varied within the limits permitted by the length of said slot.
 5. The winding form as claimed in claim 3, in which a pair of angle beams are mounted on and extend along the outwardly-facing flat surfaces of each of said T-beams, and means for selectively spacing and fixing the angle beams of each pair within predetermined limits.
 6. The winding form as claimed in claim 4, including means for selectively spacing and fixing the T-beams within predetermined limits.
 7. The winding form as recited in claim 4, including a set of graduation marks along the inner surface of each end plate for cooperating with the outer edge of each of said angle beams to thereby indicate one dimension of the window of a coil wound on the form.
 8. The winding form as recited in claim 4, in which a slotted opening extends through the contacting leg of one of said angle beams adjacent to one end thereof, and an opening through a crossarm portion of the abutting T-beam is disposed in registration with said slotted opening, whereby the wire at the starting end of a coil may be extended through said openings for anchoring at the inner side of said T-beam.
 9. The winding form as claimed in claim 4, in which a recess extends coaxially inward from the outer end of each protuberance and a removable bearing extends inwardly into said recess, said bearing having an inwardly tapering opening therein for engaging the tailstock of a lathe, and a coextensive grease cup in communication with said tapering opening.
 10. The winding form set forth in claim 9, wherein an opening extends coaxially through the midpoint of each end plate in communication with the rear wall of said bearing.
 11. An inwardly collapsible rotatable form upon and along which wire may be wound to form an electric transformer coil having a rectangular window, said form comprising a pair of assemblies of rectilinear members extending in opposed spaced parallel relationship and defining in outline an elongated right rectangular prism, a plurality of smooth-surfaced pins rigidly secured to the respective ends of each of said assemblies and projecting endwise therefrom, and a pair of end plates extending over the respective ends of said pair of assemblies, each of said end plates having a complementary group of lengthwise extending pin-receiving openings into which said pins project to effect a slip-fit connection normally holding said assemblies in spaced relationship and releasing said assemblies for inward movement one toward the other to collapse the form in response to a single endwise movement of each end plate, the slip-fit connection between each end plate and said assemblies being effective to cause responsive rotary movement of said assemblies about the longitudinal axis of said prism upon rotation of either of said end plates in a plane Normal to said axis.
 12. The form claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said assemblies includes a T-beam having coextensively mounted thereon a pair of transversely slidable angle beams.
 13. The form in accordance with claim 11, in which a plurality of said complementary groups of pin-receiving openings are formed in each end plate.
 14. The form in accordance with claim 11, wherein said pins are triangularly disposed with respect to the inner face of each end plate.
 15. An inwardly collapsible and rotatable elongate form for use in winding rectangular transformer coils, comprising a pair of coextensive rectilinear winding-carrying members extending longitudinally in opposed spaced parallel relationship, one of said members being gravity-biased to collapse into the longitudinal normally unoccupied space between said members, a plurality of endwise-extending pins fixed to the respective adjacent ends of said wire-carrying members, and a pair of end plates cooperating with said pins to normally restrain said one member from collapse and to release said one member in response to an outward endwise movement of said end plates. 